The sister of Elder Paisios, Christina, related the following:
Once I went to Stomiou Monastery to see the Elder and I brought him two cats, because he had many mice, a sheer scourge.
"Father Paisios," I said, "I brought you the cats so you can settle down from the mice."
The next time I visited the Monastery, I saw a pan in the kitchen and the cats and mice ate together.
I said, "Elder, I brought you cats to eat the mice and you feed them all together?"
He said to me, "Leave the blessed things, it's a pity that everyone chases and kills them, for they are also creatures of God!"
Source: Ο Όσιος Παΐσιος (Μαρτυρίες - περιστατικά - διδαχές), Ενωμένη Ρωμιοσύνη, p. 202. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
